“It was probably a touch stiff but you get some and you don’t,” Brown said. “As a coach, you learn over time you can’t second guess the calls you get and you don’t get.”

It also divided fans.

While that Bunker decision was questionable, if Edrick Lee doesn't produce a professional (intentional) foul then a penalty try isn't even a consideration. He is at major fault for giving the Bunker that option. Not that anyone will see it that way. #nrl#NRLKnightsSharks

A no try would have seen Lee in the sin bin and a penalty close to the line.

But the football gods were unexpectedly shining on the Knights with the former Shark Lee in place to grab an intercept from a wayward pass from Chad Townsend, racing away for an 85m run to the line to score under the posts, scoring the matchwinner and giving his new club the perfect start to the season.

New Sharks’ five-eighth Shaun Johnson was clearly disappointed with the result.

“We were our own worst enemies,” he said. “We didn’t take our opportunities but we created lots, we weren’t icing things. We’re not expecting all this to be smooth sailing and understand it’s a work in progress but when you beat yourself, it’s always disappointing.”

Sharks fans shouldn’t worry however as it follows the trend for the side.

Since 2010 @Cronulla_Sharks have won just one of nine Round 1 matches (worst record in the @NRL in this time)

They have won the past eight matches against @NRLKnights, with five of these matches decided by 16 points or more. Who will win this match?#NRLKnightsSharks

The Sharks did have chances with a try early in the first half called back as Katoa was ruled to have knocked the ball over the head of the defenders before sending Dugan over the line.

“I thought we created a lot more opportunities than Newcastle did,” Sharks coach Josh Morris said. “Four or five deadset missed opportunities. The Sione Katoa no-try I’m still scratching my head. But that’s footy, you’ve got to roll with the punches.”

Johnson was also asked if the side was distracted by the mass shooting in New Zealand.

“There’s always lots of things going on outside of football, our focus was still 100 per cent what was going on here,” he said. “Really devastated about what’s going on back home. I’ve got family that lives down in Christchurch so that’s pretty close to home but that’s no excuse for anything that happened tonight.”